# Wonderful Yet Obscure Albums **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923 "2001-05-19T19:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@Jonathan43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan43)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/1 "2001-05-19T19:18:45Z")
Do you have an album in your racks that is largely unknown to the wider record-buying public and yet is a genuine stone classic ? The sort of record you press upon visibly reluctant friends having praised its virtues with bug eyed fanatical intensity ? The kind of album that you have 2 copies of just in case you lose one ? And you wince in sympathy if you happen to see it marked down in a bargain bin… My own choice would be Nils Lofgren and Grin’s “1+1” a record so unappreciated I found it almost impossible to buy on CD (in the UK) having worn out my early 70s vinyl copy. It’s a fantastic, instantly lovable record of truly exceptional songs divided - as the title suggests - between a “Rockin side” and a “Dreamy Side”. Nils may be best known these days for being The Boss’s (hah) sideman, but those us with ears to hear know that the little guy could and should have been a contender. His songs on this album are peerlessly crafted, beautifully arranged, produced and sung with a passion and zest for life you rarely hear in these anodyne days. David Briggs’ production is just about perfect too - covering moods ranging from swaggering rock n roll to outdo the Stones to heartbreaking, bittersweet ballads - delivered so sincerely by Nils it makes your heart lurch. To think this wonderful, passionate record was met by such indifference on its release… Here’s your chance to make amends people - get down to your neighbourhood record shop and indulge in a life-enhancing experience. So… what records in your collection should we all have bought? ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/2 "2001-05-19T19:35:20Z")
**The Shaggs’ “Philosophy of the World.”** If you don’t know the amazing true story of the Shaggs, look it up 'cause I sure as hell don’t have the time to tell you. Listen to some sample tracks here: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I0QQ/qid=990300732/sr=1-2/ref=sc\_m\_2/104-6756921-6675164](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I0QQ/qid=990300732/sr=1-2/ref=sc_m_2/104-6756921-6675164) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/3 "2001-05-19T19:48:02Z")
Warren Zevon - “Warren Zevon” Warren Zevon - “Excitable Boy” Two of the best rock albums of the 1970’s, and not many people have ever heard them (Well, “Excitable Boy” did crack the Top-10 for a short time). ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/4 "2001-05-19T21:58:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\* > Warren Zevon - “Warren Zevon” > Warren Zevon - “Excitable Boy” > > \*\* Even though I already had copies on CD, I absconded with my parent’s copies of these recently when they went through a major house cleaning and were going to _give them to goodwill_. I was horrified. ---
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/5 "2001-05-20T05:13:05Z")
Not exactly obscure, but I _have_ seen these in discount bins. Sad. **No One Is Really Beautiful** - **Jude** Also known as Jude Christodal. Aside from appearances on the Felicity and City of Angels soundtracks, I don’t believe he ever had much publicity. **Mirmama** - **Eddi Reader & The Patron Saints of Imperfection** Reader does well, if not better, after the end of Fairground Attraction. **Back to Basics** - **Billy Bragg** One man, one mike, one electric guitar. Beautiful in it’s plaintiveness. **Captain Swing** - **Michelle Shocked** Shocked steps away from her girl-with-an-acoustic-guitar formula and does jazz and swing. Her record company goes into shock. **It’ll End in Tears** - **This Mortal Coil** Liz Fraser’s drop-dead gorgeous cover of Tim Buckley’s ‘Song to the Siren’ alone is worth the price of the album. **From Langley Park to Memphis** - **Prefab Sprout** IMHO, the best album from this two-hit wonder. Everybody now - ‘Hot dog, jumping frog, Alberquerque’… ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/6 "2001-05-20T05:36:23Z")
Woo-hooo! Someone finally started the thread I’ve been waiting for… **Pat MacDonald Sleeps With His Guitar** The former frontman for Timbuk3, a guitar, and a berserk percussionist. Incredible songwriting. **Lullabye for the Working Class** Anything by them. They make ALBUMS, dammit. Not songs, not hits, but solid, incredible albums. **Lincoln** An eponymous first and only album. This band opened two tours for They Might Be Giants. Happy, peppy, poppy pop. Go to your local cutout bin, find the bright green and orange cover, and stick the disc in your car CD player for whole damned summer. **Wheat - _Medeiros_** I can’t get enough of this band right now. Good lyrics, great tight band, and an epic sense of real life that echoes early Springsteen. Okay. I’m done for now. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. Oh, and dittoes on the Zevon, Prefab Sprout, Billy Bragg, and Jude. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/7 "2001-05-20T08:47:26Z")
For the friends who think they know their music: Pete Townsend and Ronny Lane - Rough Mix Anne Clark - The Best of… War of the Worlds - Jeff Wayne and Justin Hayward (of Moody Blues) Nilsson - The Point For my music neophyte friends: Laurie Anderson - Talk Normal Kate Bush - This Woman’s Work (if I trust them) Kate Bush - The Whole Story (if I don’t) Tom Waits - Small Change (only if they agree to listen three times through before deciding they don’t like it) ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/8 "2001-05-20T09:00:41Z")
Where do I start, when do I stop? I will limit myself to five. \*\* This is the ice age - Martha and the Muffins \*\* One of the best new wave albums of the eighties. So obscure that it is not even available on CD though. ☹ \*\* Merlin - Kayak \*\* This is the masterpiece of the Dutch band Kayak. It is a concept album, dedicated (first side of the LP) to the legend of Merlin and Arthur. World class symphonic rock. \*\* Before and after science - Brian Eno \*\* One of the most influential musicians of the past fifty years - and how many have an album by him? I’d choose this one, which is a bit more pop than some of his ambient output. And I simply love the track Julie with… \*\* Tin drum - Japan \*\* Japans sound is a bit of an acquired taste, but it is unique and of extremely high quality. The track Ghosts is one of the five most beautiful songs ever imho. Most solo albums by singer David Sylvian should also feature in this list. \*\* Peter Gabriel plays live - Peter Gabriel \*\* Devastating. Almost every song sounds even better than on his CD’s. Oh and I second the motion for This Mortal Coil and Kate Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/9 "2001-05-20T10:04:13Z")
I’d have to disagree with some of the listings here. I won’t live in a world where Warren Zevon and Peter Gabriel are considered obscure. 😉 Still, here’s my (short) list : **Gentle Giant** Three Friends **David + David** Boomtown **Moondog** Moondog (compilation CD of his two CBS albums) **Micheal O’Suilleabhhain** The Dolphin’s Way **Conlon Nancarrow** Studies for Player Piano Vol. 4 **Scott Johnson** John Somebody ---
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/10 "2001-05-20T14:18:37Z")
“Don’t you ever listen to _regular_ music?” is something my friends/siblings ask every time they venture into my CD collection. More stuff they’d never borrow: **Doppelganger - Curve** Before I discovered Massive Attack’s ‘Mezzanine’, this was my regular dose of loud, trippy electronica. **Songs for A Blue Guitar - Red House Painters** Includes a lovely cover of Paul McCartney’s ‘Silly Love Songs’. **March - Michael Penn** There’s so much more to this guy beyond his ‘Romeo-in-black-jeans’ hit. He should be big. **Flown This Acid World - Peter Himmelman** Another talented singer-songwriter who deserves more limelight. His song ‘Always In Disguise’ has one of the most romantic (but non-too-mushy) lyrics I’ve heard. **Tabula Rasa - Einsturzende Neubauten** One of their more accessible albums. Yet no one I know wants to give this a try. Tsk. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/11 "2001-05-20T14:54:14Z")
**Oddesy and Oracle by The Zombies** I’m not a big Zombies fan but on this, their final album, they made _magic_. From the haunting “Brief Candles” to the wistful “Rose for Emily” to the eerie “Beechwood Park” this is one of the most evocative albums ever. I also like **Happy Together by The Turtles** which isn’t all that obscure, but is pretty forgotten. Euty: I just discovered Moondog: What weird stuff, but I like it. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/12 "2001-05-20T15:19:48Z")
Wow, **dodge\_this** , picking **Curve** was a great choice. I agree wholeheartedly with that one. I’ll also add the following: **Prince Blimey** [sub]RED SNAPPER[/sub] - Smoky, jazz-influenced instrumental trip-hop; chilled-out and funky at the same time **Tindersticks** [sub]THE TINDERSTICKS[/sub] - Moody, darkly humourous ballads (a bit Nick Cave-ish), particularly the comedy/tragedy _My Sister_ **Cuckoo** [sub]CURVE[/sub] - Just edges out _Doppelganger_, in my humble opinion **A Storm In Heaven** [sub]THE VERVE[/sub] - Their earliest, least tuneful but most psychedelic album **Bizarro** [sub]THE WEDDING PRESENT[/sub] - Growly-voiced, jangly-guitared indie **Going Blank Again** [sub]RIDE[/sub] - Appalling lyrics, but more slightly trippy indie rock ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/13 "2001-05-20T15:45:27Z")
**Olias of Sunhillow** by Chris Squire of **Yes** ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/14 "2001-05-20T16:46:13Z")
“Trout Mask Replica” by Capitain Beefheart and the Magic Band, for those of us with a surrealist bent. > [@](#): > > I also like Happy Together by The Turtles which isn’t all that obscure, but is pretty forgotten. You should check out “Zappa and the Mothers Live at the Fillmore East”. This version of the Mothers includes Flo and Eddie and they do a wicked, Zappaized version of “Happy Together”. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/15 "2001-05-20T18:25:43Z")
Almost anyting by King Crimson ---
**Author:** ![aoty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9e8a1a/32.png) [@aoty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aoty)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/16 "2001-05-20T18:56:09Z")
Obscure albums… Angel Dust by Faith No More: Most people know FNM from “Epic”, but few people remember the follow-up album from '92 which is extremely influential to today’s most popular bands. Not as commercial as the record company would have liked. This album changed the way I look at music, and I still listen to it everyday. Second Grand Constitution & By-Laws by Secret Chiefs 3: This genre twisting band mixes techno, surf, metal, and middle eastern styles to create something beautifully unique. This album was recently re-released and is available at many online stores like [Cdnow.com](http://Cdnow.com) Naked City by John Zorn: Experimental and freeform jazz. Chaotic but worth checking out. It’s Understood by Estradasphere: Another genre twisting band that correlaborates with Secret Chiefs 3. It’s some of the most unique music I’ve ever heard. AFAIK, you can only buy it from [http://www.estradasphere.com](http://www.estradasphere.com) (has sound clips too). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/17 "2001-05-20T18:58:32Z")
A second on David + David’s _Boomtown_. Nik Kershaw’s _The Riddle_, which my cassette copy of also includes “Wouldn’t It Be Good,” his one big hit. Susan Tedeschi’s _Just Won’t Burn_ is burning me up lately. Stanley Clarke’s _Hideaway_ is beautiful, lyrical jazz, kind of an unusual love for a hardcore bebop man like myself. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/18 "2001-05-20T18:58:51Z")
Angel Dust is a great album, but I don’t think it qualifies as obscure in the slightest! ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/19 "2001-05-20T19:08:41Z")
90% of my albums. if not 95%. But a couple particulars. In general: **Eskimo** - by the Residents. This really was and still is a groundbreaking album. Never ceases to amaze me. Not nesecarily my favorite album by them, that would probably be **Not Available** , but it’s the one I trot out. **The Sound of the Heart Beating as One** - by Yo La Tengo Much more mature than their earlier albums, very dreamy and druggy. A little more mainstream than a lot of my stuff, but good. **EAT** - by Charming Hostess. From the East bay, on vacination records, the people who gave us Idiot Flesh, Eskimo (the band), 9 wood, Mumble and Peg and others. Charming Hostess is probably one of Vacinations most accessable bands. Female singers, klezmer, jazz, punk, folk music. They do some amazing covers of early hungarian and jewish tunes. **RUIS** - by Jolly Jumpers A norweigen band, sounds like a mix of the velvet underground and nick cave. Really good. Hip Hop- **Steal this Album** - by the Coup Poltical, socialist, funny hip-hop from the East Bay. **Black Elvis** - by Kool Keith One of the best rappers out there, both in terms of production and rhymes. His Dr. Octagon work was great, as was Dr. Dooom. He’s funny, violent, scatological, and extremely talented. Been ripped off and immitated too many times to count. **Too bad but True** - by Fever Best hiphop album of 99. By a british outfit on Digital Hardcore records. Very dark, deep, and rumbling. Punk: **Statue** - by DeadStoolPigeon Dutch hardcore punk. Political. A friend of mine is in it. Really strong and muscualr, formed from ManLiftingBanner. Definetely my favorite punk band. **Fat Elvis** - by the Big Boys Texas skater punks from the Early 80’s. Toured with Black Flag and the like. Did funky punk like the red hot chilli peppers imitated. Definetely essential punk listening. Their cover of hollywood swinging is great. **Rock for Loot** - by Black Fork A teenage Gilman punk band out of the East Bay. Great fast, newcore stuff. 15 year old girl singer screaming her lungs out. Very punk Metal: **Total Destruction** - by Unsane NewYork grindcore. They’ve been around for 10 years and have only gotten better. Loud, angry, grinding! **Share the Fantasy** by GodHeadSilo Really good. Just a bass guitar and drums, so very heavy. A warped sense of humor, and lots of screams **Revenge** - by the Flying Luttenbachers An hour of NOISE punk jazz metal! Weasel Walter is trully amazing with his saxophone on here. He also appears in the next two bands I’ll mention. **Lake of Dracula** - by Lake of Dracula Weasel does drums and vocals on this. Hard to describe. Very experimental. Very rocking. Very punk. Very hard. Very head bangable. Lot’s of weird yelps and noises. **BloodLust** - by HateWave Weasel again does drums, and they’re tighter than anywhere else. You’d think it was a machine. Death metal. Heavy heavy evil death metal. Slit the Catholic throat is one of the best songs. Electronic **Sinology** - by Andy Sine A philly jungulist. Very good mix. Actually takes you somewhere. Even people who don’t like D like this. **Quirk** by Quirk Tim Heally and Mark Allen make great music. House, techno, trance, and some other scuzzy stuff. Catch them live too if you can. **Feast** - by Crash Worship Tribal drums, techno, horns, and lots of sweaty bodies. Very primal, and fun. and of course there are more, but that’s a good start. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/20 "2001-05-20T19:17:48Z")
First, I want to second some of the suggestions made already: **The Shaggs - Philosophy of the World Billy Bragg - Back To Basics The Wedding Present - Bizarro** Now for my own picks: **Husker Du - New Day Rising** I know, I never shut up about them. Great catchy/noisy post-punk. On a similar note: **Bob Mould - Workbook** Largely acoustic singer/songwriter fare with very obscure lyrics from Husker’s frontman. The band’s punkier fans hated it. **The Divine Comedy - A Secret History (Best Of)** Burt Bacharach-ish pure pop. Beautiful songs. **The Go-Betweens - Tallulah** The songs demand attention before sinking in, but it’s worth it. Subtle acoustic pop. **Cinerama - This is Cinerama** Lovely indie-pop from the former frontman of the Wedding Present (sounds nothing like 'em). **Handsome Boy Modeling School - So…How’s Your Girl?** Hip/trip-hop with actual musicianship, featuring a horde of guest stars. **Gang of Four - Entertainment!** Funk/punk Marxist agitprop. Will make you twitch. **Os Mutantes - Best of…** Brazilian psychadelic art band. **Quasi - Featuring "Birds"** More indie pop/rock. I’ll stop now, so I’m not sitting at the computer all day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923.md?page=2)